Auction Research Articles

Profitability dynamics of offshore wind from auction to investment decision

Offshore wind auctions in Europe have recently seen considerable price decreases, with resulting support levels low enough to warrant the question whether project profitabilities are robust enough against changing market prices, or whether project suffer from low returns upon project realisation. This study investigates the development of profitability between auction date and Final Investment Decision, mainly through identifying impacts of changes in electricity prices, using stochastic discounted cash flow analysis. Some projects seem to have experienced adverse market developments. The study employs an explanatory-sequential approach to analyse two strategies to mitigate this risk: Pricing risks into the auction bid and absorbing losses through reduced returns or, alternatively, passing them down to contractors in the supply chain. The study finds indications that post-auction market developments have likely led to diminishing returns of developers, rather than increased price pressure on contractors. The study enhances the understanding of project profitabilities and developers’ choices between auction and investment decision, and therewith opens the discussion on post-auction industry dynamics as an increasingly relevant factor to ensure that offshore wind can live up to its envisaged role in the decarbonisation of society.

Implementasi Sistem Informasi Akuntansi Kredit Gadai Emas Di PT Pegadaian

This research was prepared to determine the procedures for granting, repaying, and auctioning gold pawn loans at PT Pegadaian (Persero) Tajur Branch Service Unit as one of the Fast and Secure Credit products offered by the company to the public to be able to obtain loans with collateral in the form of gold. The purpose of this writing is to find out about the Gold Pawn Credit Accounting Information System at PT Pegadaian and how the effectiveness of Internal Control on the Gold Pawn Information System at PT Pegadaian. The procedure for granting a gold pawn starts from a credit application, valuation of collateral, disbursement of credit loan funds, to storage of collateral, followed by settlement of the loan money within a maximum of four months by redemption, installments, or renewal. If the customer is unable to repay later, the collateral will be auctioned with the customer's consent based on the terms and conditions at the beginning of the credit loan process. Based on the results of the review, all of the above procedures have been carried out by the principles of good internal control, including standard procedures that are outlined in the form of flowcharts, there is a separation of duties made in the organizational structure and job descriptions, there are appraisers to overcome the risk of the insufficient value of collateral, there are adequate authorization procedures when granting credit and the auction process, there is verification of credit granting requirements, security of pawn deposits is very adequate, supported by a pawn application system and supporting documents to ensure the achievement of the objectives of granting credit with gold pawning. Keywords: Gold Pawn Credit Procedure, Internal Control, Accounting Information System

FoodBlock: A secure and cost‐optimal framework for online food ordering using blockchain

AbstractThe internet has drastically changed trade and interpersonal interactions since the introduction of the pandemic. Food delivery services have expanded significantly in recent years. These services link customers with restaurants using the internet, enabling quick delivery of mobile meals. But as these businesses grow, dealing with problems like fraud and inefficiencies that may lower the quality of their services is more crucial than ever. This article lists the drawbacks of the existing food delivery services and recommends how to fix them. A blockchain‐based architecture is also used to increase security and reliability, and an auction process encourages fairness and transparency for both riders and restaurants. We have developed an auction model where the riders can quote the price they estimate for a particular delivery. Additionally, a machine‐predicted bid is also used to prevent the case where the riders would try to exploit the restaurants. This method leads to a better way of implementing online food delivery services, safeguarding the interests of customers, riders, and restaurants.

Vertical Equity Analysis of Parking Reservation Based on the Auction Strategy

As an on-demand mobility service, parking reservations can greatly alleviate the issue of parking challenges. There are currently three primary strategies for parking reservation: first-come-first-served, permit reservation, and auction. In contrast to the first-come-first-served and permit-reserved strategies, the auction strategy uses dynamic pricing to allocate parking supplies efficiently based on the auction, which attracts more scholars for the research. However, parking reservations based on the auction process may have an inequity issue because drivers’ age, gender, income level, and location of residence fluctuate. This inequity may limit the growth of reserved parking by influencing parking drivers’ acceptance of reserved parking. But currently, very few scholars focus on the issue of reserved parking equity, and even fewer measure this nebulous and personal issue. In consideration of this, the Lorenz curve of parking reservation and the vertical equity index of parking reservation are proposed in this paper along with the calculation method for the index, which enables the problem of reserved parking vertical equity to be visualized and made concrete. The numerical experimental method is used to analyze the vertical equity of drivers with varying income levels, utilizing the Vickrey–Clarke–Groves (VCG) auction process as an example. According to the research, loss-averse drivers are more than gain-neutral and gain-seeking drivers when the income levels of the drivers using reserved parking are the same. With the increasing number of high-income drivers involved in the parking reservation, medium to low-income drivers would lose their chances of successful reservations because of their uncompetitive bid price which leads to inequity issues when the number is less than the number of parking spaces. In contrast, the vertical equity index changes more for gain-seeking drivers while being generally steady when loss-averse and gain-neutral drivers participate. For instance, when the profit and loss coefficient is 3 and 15% of drivers with high-income levels use the parking reservation platform, the vertical equity index rises from 0.09128 to 0.45434. The reference price has a moderating influence on the vertical equity index when the number of driver participants at high-income levels remains constant. In general, within a reasonable range, the higher the reference price, the more equitable the parking reservation procedure and the lower the vertical equity index.

A Smart Contract Based Secure Ride Sharing System

A ride-sharing system provides many advantages. It reduces energy consumption. Moreover, it mitigates traffic congestion. Furthermore, it provides benefits to drivers and passengers in that they share travel costs (gas, toll ticket). Ride-sharing has been getting very popular since the COVID-19 pandemic. Since COVID-19 is very contagious and spread by infected people via coughs, sneezes, or talking, people avoid using public transportation to get the disease. People prefer to travel with a few people to protect their health. To prevent people from getting the disease and to have the advantages of a ride-sharing system, we introduce a ride-sharing system in which a driver only travels with a passenger for each event. Traveling with only one person provides advantages to both the driver and passenger. The driver (passenger) not only shares the cost of the trip but also reduces the risk of getting or spreading the disease. This paper proposes a smart-contract-based ride-sharing system that uses a $Vickrey$ (second highest bid) auction mechanism during a pandemic to determine the passenger. The system provides a decentralized, transparent, trackable, verifiable, and secure ride-sharing with the help of consortium blockchain. Using smart contracts in the system allows users’ bids to be transparent and verifiable. Furthermore, the proposed system provides a secure and lightweight mechanism to protect users' (drivers and passengers) travel data (locations and cost of travel). Their travel data for each event is going to be unlinkable.

NFT auction: Implementing smart contracts for decentralized transactions

In the wake of blockchain and Web3 technological advancements, Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) have emerged as prominent digital assets within the realms of art, gaming, and virtual commodities. Unlike their traditional counterparts, NFT auctions harness the virtues of decentralization, transparency, and immutability, ushering in a new era for trading artworks and other digital assets. This paper embarks on an exploration, first laying down the foundational principles of blockchain technology and NFTs. A comparative analysis follows, juxtaposing the dynamics of NFT auctions with the modus operandi of traditional auctions. Within the theoretical scaffold, the nuances of decentralization and trust in NFT auctions are elucidated, spotlighting the pivotal role of smart contracts throughout the auction trajectory. The emphasis also gravitates towards transparency and security, two cornerstones ensuring the integrity of the auction process. Diving into the methodology, this section delineates the research blueprint and the techniques employed for program testing. Delving into the practicalities, the discourse meticulously unpacks the architecture and operability of the smart contract, gauging its efficacy through rigorous assessments. Beyond the present scope, the paper ventures to uncover potential applications and horizons awaiting NFT auctions across diverse sectors.

From art object to rubble

This article investigates the impact of the valuation of demolition materials on its ultimate destination in the city of Brussels between 1860 and 1940 via an analysis of municipal policy on demolition. It examines the process of revaluation and devaluation in buildings, shifting the focus from large-scale urban developments to individual elements and materials. The study entails an analysis of the rules embedded in the building regulations and specifications for demolition projects, as well as records, reports and correspondence illustrating the enforcement of these rules. A brief outline of the legal and administrative framework is followed by a discussion of the criteria used in categorizing and evaluating demolition materials.
 In the period under consideration the Brussels city council, in common with many European municipal governments, embraced large-scale demolition operations as a radical solution to the challenges facing city centres. The stable policy during the period 1860-1940 exhibited various valuation processes across comparable demolition projects. The Brussels authorities pursued a stratified policy, integrating the different categories of demolition materials according to their nature and value. These categories comprised (1) treasures, artworks, objects related to numismatics and natural history, and all other objects of any value, (2) materials and objects, and (3) rubble, soil and waste.
 The city prioritized artworks and objects of artistic or historical value, over which it retained ownership, and invested in the preservation, exhibition and reuse of such materials. Other demolition materials were sold to the demolition contractors, meaning that the city government had little direct influence over their ultimate destination. Nevertheless, the building inspector estimated the financial value of the various materials and objects prior to organizing a public sale of these materials. The limited interest in rubble and waste evident in the administrative documents did not necessarily point to an absence of policy, but rather to the relation between various categories of demolition materials. By drawing attention to their financial value, the public sale of such materials not only generated financial returns for the city, but also indirectly influenced the reuse of these materials and so also the proportion of rubble and building waste.
 As such, the study serves to clarify the dynamics between revaluation and devaluation of demolition materials. This new perspective on demolition materials illustrates their role in policymaking with respect to large-scale urban transformation projects. It contributes to a broader understanding of the importance of the reuse of demolition materials in the period between 1860 and 1940, and sheds light on the relation between urban development, heritage preservation, reuse and waste management.

Current Review on Issues and Challenges for the Immovable Property Auction Process In Malaysia

The immovable property public auction process is a legal mechanism used to revoke the rights of original owners who have violated a contract. Banks will sell distressed property when a borrower fails to repay their housing loan. There is a significant knowledge gap in understanding Malaysia's immovable property auction processes. This research aims to address this gap by reviewing existing literature, gathering secondary data, and addressing the need for more standardization in the public auction procedure. The findings have significant benefits for stakeholders in property auctions and aim to enhance the auction process by developing standardized standards.

A New Model for Matching Asks and Bids in P2P Energy Trading: Game Theory Method

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) energy trading is one of the emerging approaches for managing energy within microgrids. Various methods and mechanisms have been proposed for market settlement in P2P energy trading. One of the challenges in these approaches is the underutilization of the maximum capacity of the P2P energy market. In this article, to maximize the utilization of the P2P market capacity and address the buying and selling requests, a combination of auction-based and bilateral negotiation approaches has been utilized. One of the advantages of double auction-based approaches is the ability to maximize social welfare due to the presence of an auctioneer in their structure. On the other hand, one of the challenges of these approaches is that some buyers and sellers may exit the market clearing process based on their own bids and asks. As a result, they would need to find alternative ways to sell and buy their energy. In the proposed approach, buyers and sellers are divided into two groups. The first group consists of participants who have won in the auction process. In this scenario, buyers engage in a Stackelberg game with the P2P energy trading platform, which acts as the auctioneer. In this game, the auctioneer plays the role of the leader, and the buyers play the role of followers. Each of them strives to maximize their social welfare function. After the completion of the market settlement process for the first group, the buyers and sellers of the second group attempt to match their contracts with each other through bilateral negotiations. Another challenge in P2P energy trading is the lack of simultaneous consideration of both economic (market settlement) and technical aspects (network constraints). In the proposed mechanism, constraints and network topology are also considered in the transactions process to minimize the possibility of overload and line congestion. The proposed mechanism has been implemented on the IEEE 37-feeder test system, and the results show that the proposed mechanism performs significantly better than other existing methods.

부동산 경매 시 유치권의 대항력 제한 법리에 대한 검토

The retention right holder has the right to refuse delivery to the buyer in the auction procedure. As part of resolving the problem of this situation, the Supreme Court has established the legal principle that liens established after the registration of the auction commencement decision cannot be used against the buyer in the auction process. However, in 2022, the Supreme Court made a ruling that is difficult to explain with these legal principles. This is because the opposing power of the lien was recognized even though the lien was not established at the time of registration of the auction commencement decision due to the postponement of the payment period. However, the 2022 Supreme Court ruling does not provide specific standards, but simply lists various circumstances that do not undermine the stability of the auction procedure even if the lien is recognized in the case. Therefore, it is not possible to know which of them is the decisive factor. In other words, this ruling is significant in that it demonstrates the need for change in the existing Supreme Court jurisprudence, but it has the limitation of failing to present specific standards to resolve this issue. In this paper, the following conclusions were presented regarding the standards for judging the opposing power of liens by comparing previous rulings with the 2022 ruling.
 (1) Limiting the opposing power of liens established by transfer of possession after registration of the auction commencement decision is an appropriate way to protect the interests of enforcing creditor. And this can be explained by the prohibition effect of attachment.
 (2) Even if a claim is established after registration of the auction commencement decision, it is necessary to deny the opposing power of the lien. This can be explained if the effect of attachment is broadly understood.
 (3) The fact that the payment period arrives after the registration of the auction commencement decision cannot be a factor to be considered when determining the adversarial power of the lien.
 (4) Whether or not a lien is listed in the status investigation report cannot be a decisive criterion for determining opposing power. However, in cases where it is necessary to protect the trust of buyers in the auction process who were unaware of the existence of a lien, opposing power must be determined by reviewing the lien holder's fault for the failure to include it in the status investigation report.

Evaluasi Peranan Pejabat Lelang dalam Sistem Lelang di Indonesia

The auction system in Indonesia is the process of selling goods or services through a bargaining method where potential buyers or bidders compete to obtain the goods or services by offering the highest price. In recent years, online auctions have become popular in Indonesia, allowing people to participate in auctions via online platforms. Some well-known online auction platforms in Indonesia are Bukalapak, Tokopedia, and special auction platforms such as Invaluable or Christie's. Auctions in Indonesian legislation are regulated by various laws and regulations covering aspects such as government auctions, property auctions, and general regulations regarding the auction process. The role of an auction in auction procedures in Indonesia usually involves several important tasks related to auction transactions. A auction can be asked to examine documents related to the auction process, including the auction agreement, sale and purchase agreement, and other related documents. The aim of this research is to explain the evaluation of the role of auctions in the auction system in Indonesia. The approach used in this research is a juridical-empirical approach. The results of the research in this paper show that evaluating the role of notaries in the auction system in Indonesia can involve several aspects related to integrity, transparency, and legal compliance in the auction process. Meanwhile, the evaluation must include the extent to which the auction ensures that the auction process complies with applicable laws and regulations in Indonesia. The auction must accurately and independently certify the auction transaction. The evaluation should check whether they have performed this role well. It is important to evaluate the accuracy of the documents prepared by the auction, including the auction deed and other records that record the details of the auction transaction. In addition, the evaluation must consider whether the auction has helped in increasing transparency in the auction process, especially in terms of announcements, access to information, and reporting of auction results.

Analysis Of The Influence Of Low Bidding Factors On Quality And Cost Performance In Procurement Of Small Class Pier Projects In The Government Environment

Since COVID 19 pandemic hit Indonesia, many small harbor contractors have been forced to provide low bid prices ( < 80% HPS) for harbor auctions sourced from APBN funds in 2019-2022. Even though the bid price given is low, many contractors are able to complete the work according to the quality and price required in the contract agreement. This research analyzes the factors that cause contractors who have successfully completed the work, dare to provide low bids in the auction process. From the data obtained an processed using SEM-PLS method, it is know that the company’s internal condition factors have the most significant influence with a path coefficient of 0.464. The biggest indicator of the company’s internal condition is the company’s need to achieve the minimum sales/ profit target in one year, with a path coefficient value of 0.866. Financial characteristic factors also have a significat influence with a path coefficient value of 0.223. Meanwhile the technical characteristics factors has an influence with a path coefficient value of 0.213.

Takeovers, Freezeouts, and Risk Arbitrage

This paper develops a dynamic model of tender offers in which there is trading on the target’s shares during the takeover, and bidders can freeze out target shareholders (compulsorily acquire remaining shares not tendered at the bid price), features that prevail on almost all takeovers. We show that trading allows for the entry of arbitrageurs with large blocks of shares who can hold out a freezeout—a threat that forces the bidder to offer a high preemptive bid. There is also a positive relationship between the takeover premium and arbitrageurs’ accumulation of shares before the takeover announcement, and the less liquid the target stock, the stronger this relationship is. Moreover, freezeouts eliminate the free-rider problem, but front-end loaded bids, such as two-tiered and partial offers, do not benefit bidders because arbitrageurs can undo any potential benefit and eliminate the coerciveness of these offers. Similarly, the takeover premium is also largely unrelated to the bidder’s ability to dilute the target’s shareholders after the acquisition, also due to potential arbitrage activity.

부동산 유치권제도 입법 방향에 대한 제언

The purpose of this study is to present the legislative direction for the revision discussion, which has been repeatedly frustrated just before the revision despite efforts to revise the lien, but has revived in 2023. The lien does not conform to the principle of fairness because it becomes an unfair position compared to other general creditors if the bond is returned to the person who holds the bond. Therefore, in order to comply with this principle, the current civil law has established a legal mechanism to achieve the original purpose of the lien holder by refusing to return the goods or securities until the lien holder, who is the expenditure holder, is reimbursed for his or her bond. However, due to the limitations of the lien system itself, institutional loopholes were exposed in practice, and voices sympathizing with the need for improvement continued to be raised based on the problems revealed. In the case of movable property, the lien system is not very difficult for the lien holder to achieve his or her purpose through occupation, but in the case of real estate, it is true that it has caused many problems as it is treated as an exception to the principle of indivisibility of the lien system, recruitment of acquisitions, and disclosure by registration. As a result, it was often difficult for either the lien holder, the debtor, or a third party in the auction process to obtain satisfaction with their rights. The problem revealed in the operation of the real estate lien system is that it is not easy to judge the consistency between objects and bonds, which are the requirements for the establishment of liens, Because it is an exception to the principle of disclosure by registration, it is difficult to judge the existence of a lien in possession, and the fact that acquisitionism is applied in the real estate auction process, the preferential repayment effect is recognized compared to senior mortgage holders, causing unpredictable damage to buyers, In the auction process, it is difficult to predict the existence of a lien because there is no regulation on reporting obligations, and if the lien occupies the target property, others, such as the owner, cannot use the property and the lien itself cannot use the lien without the consent of the debtor, which reduces the value of socioeconomic utility. Based on these problems, academia and working circles tried to improve. Looking at the efforts for revision so far, there was a discussion on the revision of the lien in 2004, but no amendment was prepared. The revision discussion began in earnest in 2009, and in 2013, the lien, which is widely recognized in movable property, real estate, and securities, was recognized only for movable property, securities, and unregistered real estate, abolished the lien system only for registered real estate, and came up with a plan to recognize the right to claim mortgage establishment for liens, but it did not cross the threshold of the National Assembly and was automatically abolished. The amendment submitted to the National Assembly in 2013 was evaluated as a valid view, such as the abolition of acquisitionism and recognition as a right to claim mortgage establishment, which had been presented as a problem, but many views were suggested that it was incomplete. As the spark of revision has revived, legislators are at a crossroads of choice between preserving or supplementing after abolition, and whether to protect lien holders, debtors, or third parties. In the end, the legislative direction of the real estate lien system will be to come up with measures to minimize realistic problems in harmony with the interested parties of the lien.

Unlocking Concert Experiences: Mobile Economy Maximiaztion Bundles Transforming Ticketing Dynamics

Mobile Economy Maximation Bundles are theoretical all-inclusive bundling packages, curated to out-of-town travelers coming into a specific municipal city for a live music event. The packages include hotel stays, base and premium food options and tickets to the event itself, dynamically priced based on forecasted demand by a demand rate . Bundles would open to public sale at a pre-destined time, but because hotels will be able to buy a select number of tickets ahead of time, they do not need to contend with the general sale, giving them a fixed number of tickets at MSRP prices which can be passed to the customer, and customers would gravitate to hotel providers offering this system over competitors who do not. The structuring of these entertainment bundles is an effort to improve the experience for traveling consumers but also a response to rising scalper prices of concert tickets where, in 2023, in-demand concerts such as the Taylor Swift Era’s Tour, scalper tickets were priced anywhere from 614.29% to 2665.1% higher than their original MSRP price, prompting a critical need to address the rising costs to consumers.

Cooperative management of an emission trading system: a private governance and learned auction for a blockchain approach

Although blockchain technology has received a significant amount of cutting-edge research on constructing a novel carbon trade market in theory, there is little research on using blockchain in carbon emission trading schemes (ETS). This study intends to address existing gaps in the literature by creating and simulating an ETS system based on blockchain technology. Using the ciphertext-policy attributed-based encryption algorithm and the Fabric network to build a platform may optimize the amount of data available while maintaining privacy security. Considering the augmentation of information interaction during the auction process brought about by blockchain, the learning behavior of bidding firms is introduced to investigate the impact of blockchain on ETS auction. In particular, implementing smart contracts can provide a swift and automatic settlement. The simulation results of the proposed system demonstrate the following: (1) fine-grained access is possible with a second delay; (2) the average annual compliance levels increase by 2% when bidders’ learning behavior is considered; and (3) the blockchain network can process more than 350 reading operations or 7 writing operations in a second.

Abstract C006: BID upregulation associates with sensitivity to TTK inhibitors in tumor cell lines

Abstract Background: Drugs overriding the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC), such as Aurora kinase B (AURKB) or dual-specificity protein kinase TTK (=Mps1) inhibitors, are in Phase I/II clinical trials. However, their clinical application has been hampered by the lack of biomarkers for patient selection. We have previously demonstrated that BID upregulation, present in 6% of human tumors, predicts sensitivity to AURKB inhibition in cell line and animal models. Here, we investigated the association of BID expression with response to TTK inhibitors (TTKi). Methods: A panel of seven solid tumor cell lines of lung, breast, melanoma, and pancreas origin were used in the study, together with three EGFR-mut clones derived from the PC9 lung cancer cell line. All of them had been previously characterized for BID expression at the mRNA and protein levels. The effects of three TTKi (BAY1217389, CFI-402257 and BOS172722) on proliferation, cell cycle and cell death were analyzed by MTT and flow cytometry, respectively. Silencing and ectopic expression with lentiviral vectors, together with transfection with a 72-gene knock-out library, were used to investigate mechanisms of action. Results: The concordance in response to the three TTKi among the cell lines and clones analyzed was 100%. Three of the seven tumor cell lines and 2/3 EGFR-mut clones were uniformly sensitive, showing IC50s <100 nM for CFI-402257 and BOS172722 and <10 nM for BAY1217389. BID expression was significantly associated with response to TTKi (p<0.05). All cells sensitive to TTKi had high BID mRNA and protein levels; while the cells with low BID were resistant. Flow cytometry showed G2/M arrest after TTKi in all lines and clones, followed by cell death only in those with high BID. Silencing using shRNA viral particles significantly reduced sensitivity to the three TTKi in the two sensitive cell lines and clones tested. Conversely, ectopic expression of BID in two resistant cell lines increased sensitivity to BAY1217389 and BOS172722. Finally, among a library of 72 genes, only knock-out of BID and the genes coding for the components of the PIDDosome (PIDD, CRADD and CASP2) triggered resistance to TTKi. Conclusions: BID upregulation associates with sensitivity to TTKi through a mechanism involving the PIDDosome. Our results warrant clinical exploration of TTKi in BID overexpressing tumors. Citation Format: Jordi Bertran-Alamillo, Ana Giménez-Capitán, Silvia García-Román, Rafael Rosell, Miguel A Molina-Vila. BID upregulation associates with sensitivity to TTK inhibitors in tumor cell lines [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC Virtual International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2023 Oct 11-15; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2023;22(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C006.

부동산 경매절차에서 유치권자의 지위에 관한 고찰

The title of this thesis is “A study on the position of a Lien holder in real estate auction procedures - Supreme Court Decision 2013Da84971, Decided on Jan., 29 2015 -”. It is not possible to accurately predict what problems will occur in the future at this point. However, if it is a system that regulates social order, a way to minimize the risk should be sought to prevent unreasonable consequences. In particular, since the lien system is a newly created system, if the existing problems are closely identified, it is expected that the lien system can be more reasonable and practical in the future. In this paper, the main contents related to the position of a Lien holder in real estate auction procedures and the improvement direction thereof were reviewed. I believe that If the lien extends the transition period after the registration of the start of the auction, it will not be possible to compete against the buyer in the auction process.

Body image disturbance, interoceptive sensibility and the body schema across female adulthood: a pre-registered study

IntroductionBody image disturbance (BID) typically involves explicit negative attitudes toward one’s shape and weight and is associated with altered interoceptive sensibility (the subjective perception of internal bodily states). This association is a known risk factor for the development and maintenance of eating disorders. However, while research has centred on younger women with eating disorders, diverse facets of BID appear in women without eating disorders across adulthood. Research shows that in the general population, young women (ages 18–25) with high BID exhibit disturbances in the body schema: an implicit sensorimotor representation of the body in space which includes mental simulation of a movement such as motor imagery. Given that body image is subject to age-related influences, it is important to investigate how age-related variation in BID can influence the body schema beyond young adulthood alone. Here, we examine the relationship between BID, interoceptive sensibility and the body schema across female adulthood.MethodsCross-sectional data was collected online from 1,214 women across four age groups: Young adults (18–24), Adults (25–39), Middle-aged adults (40–59), and Older aged adults (60–75). BID was indexed by questionnaires measuring body objectification, state, and trait body dissatisfaction. Interoceptive sensibility (IS) was measured using the MAIA-2 questionnaire. The body schema was evaluated through the Own Body Transformation task: a mental rotation task which assesses the capacity to make an embodied mental transformation.ResultsAnalyses revealed that while body objectification and trait body dissatisfaction decreased from young to older adulthood, state body dissatisfaction showed a marked increase. A negative relationship between IS and BID across all age groups was also evidenced. Finally, age, BID and orientation of the presented body were significant predictors of the time taken to make an embodied transformation.DiscussionThese findings highlight the consistent relationship of BID and IS across age groups beyond young adulthood and demonstrate the varying importance of different aspects of BID as individuals age. We also evidence for the first time that disruptions in body image have the potential to impact implicit sensorimotor representations of the body even in women without eating disorders across female adulthood.

Safety and Preliminary Efficacy of DFV890 in Adult Patients with Myeloid Diseases: A Phase 1b Study

Background and Significance: Patients (pts) with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) have a high unmet medical need, with limited standard-of-care therapeutic approaches, particularly after failure of response to first-line agents, and with allogeneic hematopoietic transplant as the only potential curative option. Through the production of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18, the NLRP3 inflammasome has been implicated as a major driver of inflammation associated with acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. The NLRP3 pathway is activated in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and in the marrow microenvironment in myeloid neoplasms such as MDS and CMML contributing to ineffective hematopoiesis and clonal progression (Hamarsheh 2020; Basiorka 2016). DFV890, a small molecule NLRP3 inhibitor, blocks IL-1β and IL-18 secretion and pyroptotic cell death in response to a wide variety of NLRP3-dependent danger signals, both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, DFV890 may disrupt the smoldering inflammation and provide disease-modifying benefits to pts by improving hematopoiesis. Study Design and Methods: This is an open-label, phase 1b, multicenter study with a randomized dose-optimization part and a dose-expansion part consisting of two groups evaluating DFV890 in pts with very low, low, or intermediate risk MDS (LR-MDS) per revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) criteria and low or intermediate-1 risk CMML (LR-CMML) per CMML-specific Prognostic Scoring System (CPSS) criteria (NCT05552469). Eligible pts must be 18 years of age, with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤2, candidates for serial bone marrow assessments who are willing to undergo a bone marrow aspirate/biopsy during the trial, and meet one of the following: (a) IPSS-R-defined LR-MDS who failed to respond to or did not tolerate erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) or luspatercept or hypomethylating agents (HMAs) and pts with del 5q who failed to respond to or did not tolerate lenalidomide; (b) CPSS-defined LR-CMML who failed to respond to or did not tolerate hydroxyurea or HMAs. Key exclusion criteria include treatment with systemic antineoplastic or any experimental therapies within 28 days (or 5 half-lives, whichever longer); unresolved treatment-related toxicities prior to the first dose of study treatment; previous treatment with agents targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome and the IL-1 pathways; prior use (≤1 week or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer) of hematopoietic colony-stimulating growth factors, thrombopoietin mimetics or ESAs; and concomitant medications, known to modulate cytochrome P450 enzymes. DFV890 is administered orally twice daily (bid) for a minimum of 24 weeks (6 cycles of treatment [1 cycle=28 days]) until treatment discontinuation. In the dose-optimization part, pts are randomized to receive either low dose or high dose bid and stratified by indications. The recommended dose (RD) determined from this part is further explored in the dose-expansion part to confirm safety and tolerability of DFV890 and explore preliminary efficacy. The primary objective is to assess safety (incidence and severity of adverse events, and dose-limiting toxicities) and tolerability to then determine the optimal RD for DFV980. Secondary objectives include assessment of DFV890 pharmacokinetics, evaluation of the preliminary efficacy of DFV890 on transfusion burden, and hematologic improvement: time to onset of transfusion independence; duration of response, best overall response, overall response rate, progression-free survival, and time to progression; and reduction in spleen volume (for CMML). Key exploratory objectives include patient perceptions of tolerability as measured by patient-reported outcomes; and determination of genetic characteristics and potential predictive markers of efficacy and/or resistance. The study is currently enrolling in Singapore, Hong Kong, and the USA with plans to treat approximately 80 pts. The first patient first visit was achieved on May 8, 2023.